CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says he is transferring power to his vice president, Omar Suleiman, but will not leave the country.

Mubarak said in a nationally televised address Thursday that the demands of protesters calling for his immediate ouster are just and legitimate. He said he had requested six constitutional amendments, answering one of the demands of the protesters. He said he would lift hated emergency laws when security permitted.

Mubarak also vowed to punish those behind violence over the past two weeks and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

But, contrary to what was expected from the crowds gathered in Cairo and throughout Egypt, Mubarak did not announce that he would be stepping down as President.